Cherie awoke to a knocking at her hotel door. She stirred, glancing over at the clock on the bedside table. It was 8:00 am. She frowned, then realizing she must have fallen asleep last night after the concert. She got up and opened the door. Joan was standing there, a crooked smile on her face.
"Good Morning," she said.
Cherie squinted at her, still feeling half asleep. "Good Morning," she replied.
"I am so sorry that I didn't stop by last night. Things just got a little busy and then by the time I could sneak off it was nearly 1:00 am, and I didn't want to just show up here or call because I figured you were asleep and…I'm sorry."
Cherie smiled. "It's okay. You're right, I totally fell asleep. I didn't even remember waiting for you for long, I passed right out!"
Joan smiled. "Well, regardless. I want to make it up to you. Let's go out for breakfast."
Cherie laughed. "I'm going to need some time to get ready."
Joan nodded and followed Cherie into the room. She sat down on the bed, reclining. Cherie smiled at her.
"Do you mind if I take a quick shower?" Cherie asked.
Joan flicked her eyebrows. "No, go ahead. We're in no rush."
After a little while, Cherie came back out, her hair dripping wet, a towel wrapped around her. She felt strangely natural to be around Joan like this. It's not like Joan hadn't seen her in far less…
She waltzed around the room, collecting her things, looking for something to wear. She stole a glance in Joan's direction and noticed she was watching her, a coy smile on her face.
"What's so funny?" Cherie asked nonchalantly.
Joan shook her head, looking down at her hands. "Nothin'" she said.
Cherie smirked. "Uh huh. Nothin' huh? I may not have been around you for the past two decades, but I'll always know when there is a dirty thought running through your head. You were always horrible at hiding it."
Joan burst out laughing. "Shit, Cherie. Why do you assume I'm thinkin' something dirty?"
Cherie turned around and put her hands on her hips.
"Because I'm standing here in a towel and I happen to have caught you looking at me in that funny little way you used to."
Joan smiled, slightly embarrassed. "And in what way did I used to look at you?"
Cherie cocked her head slightly, trying to find the words to describe it. "Well, you would get this little smile on your face and your eyes would kind of float around me, like you were trying to look at more than one thing at the same time, and when I would look back at you, you'd make this little face, as if you were hinting at something."
Joan licked her lips. "Well, shit," she said. "Guess you just don't outgrow some things, huh?"
Cherie shrugged, turning her back to Joan again and grabbing a pair of jeans and a tshirt out of her back, walking into the bathroom.
"Oh, c'mon Cherie!" Joan yelled from the other room, laughing slightly.
Cherie popped her head out. "What?" she asked.
Joan got up and walked over to the bathroom. "Since when were you so shy?" she asked softly, her raspy voice sounding seductive.
Cherie tried to hide her smile. "I thought we were going out for breakfast. I'm just trying to get ready quickly," she said.
Joan pushed slightly on the door. "I told you we're in no rush."
Cherie stood there, looking at Joan, whose eyes travelled down her body. Joan took a step forward, placing her hand on Cherie's face, kissing her softly.
She pulled away after a moment. "Is it okay that I'm doing this?" she whispered.
Cherie nodded slightly, pressing her lips against Joan's again, overcome by the intense attraction she still had toward her.
Before she knew it, Joan had Cherie up against the counter, her hands grabbing her thighs, kissing her aggressively. Joan wanted Cherie bad, but she didn't know how far this was really going to go. It had been all these years but there was still that spark between them, and neither of them could ignore it.
Cherie grabbed Joan's hand as it slid up her leg. She had a sudden surge of reality and she pulled back.
"Woah, woah," Cherie said, breathing heavily. "This just got really intense."
Joan smiled. "I know," she said, pressing her lips against Cherie's neck.
"Maybe we shouldn't…" Cherie said, pushing against Joan's shoulders gently.
"Do you not want to?" Joan asked slowly.
"No, I do want to. That's the fucked up part," Cherie answered.
"Why is that fucked up?" Joan said.
Cherie took a deep breath. "Joanie," she said in the same way she always did. "We can make this about sex."
Joan's eyes scanned Cherie's face, and she leaned back, her hands sliding off Cherie's legs and fell to her side. "It's always been about sex," she said. "Ever since day one."
Cherie smirked. "But, we were friends too, Joan. We were best friends."
Joan nodded slowly. "I know. But, we're not 16 anymore. We can do this if we want. We did it then and we can do it now."
Cherie leaned forward, draping her arms over Joan's square shoulders. "This is just a lot to process right now," she said quietly.
Joan nodded. "You're so beautiful, Cherie. How can I not want you?" She smiled, placing her hands on Cherie's arms.
They looked at each other for a moment, both trying to figure out what the other is thinking.
"Joan, you know I am not a prude. You know that I think you're sexy. Damn it, do I. But, after all these years I don't want to come back into your life because of sex. Not right now, anyway," she said, smiling. "It's a lot more complicated than it used to be."
Joan took a deep breath. "I know, I know," she said. "You're right. I'm sorry if I was too aggressive."
Cherie shook her head. "You weren't. I liked it. A little too much."
Joan smiled, biting her lip. "Alright, so I guess I should let you get ready then."
Cherie shrugged. "I'll be quick."
Joan looked at Cherie for another moment, before pulling out of her grasp. She ran her fingers through her hair, glancing back before she walked out of the bathroom.
"You're somethin' else, Cherie Currie," she said, chuckling and closing the door behind her.